VMware NSX-T 2.0 Homelab

04 Dec 2017

NSX-T that can provide network virtualization for a multi-cloud and multi-hypervisor environment. NSX-V (NSX for vSphere) Manager integrates into vCenter and leverages the vSphere dvSwitch. NSX-T Manager can be used with vSphere but does not integrate with vCenter or dvSwitch, instead NSX Manager is managed its API and the Transport Zone creates a hostswitch on each host.

Current homelab, 2x Intel NUC running ESXi, All-Flash VSAN, VCSA deployed, each NUC has 2x pNIC a single pNIC from each host is connected to a dvSwitch the other is available for use with NSX-T Hostswitch.

My goal here is to deploy NSX Manager, an NSX Controller and get a functioning NSX Transport Zone.

Step 1 - Deploy NSX-T Manager & Controller

The total resources required for this deployment are 32GB vRAM, 8x vCPU and 380GB vHDD.

I deployed a small NSX-T Manager it is a VM sized 8GB vRAM, 2x vCPU and 140GB of vHDD, an NSX-T Controller it is also a VM but sized 16GB vRAM, 4x vCPU and 120GB of vHDD. I connect both of these to an the same existing dvPortgroup on the existing dvSwitch as which vCenter and AD (DNS and NTP) are connected. I configure the appliances to use the IP of AD for DNS and NTP.

I deployed a small NSX-T Edge it is a VM sized 8GB vRAM, 2x vCPU and 120GB of vHDD. I connect both of these to an the same existing dvPortgroup on the existing dvSwitch as which vCenter and AD (DNS and NTP) are connected. I configure the appliances to use the IP of AD for DNS and NTP.

This will create the Logical Router, once created select it from the list and in right pane select Configuration > Router Ports and click Add, enter name, select Logical Switch to connect to and specify a IP Address and mask. Repeat for 2nd switch.

If all has gone to plan we now see the two Logical Switches in vCenter.

We can then build some test VMs and join VMs to these two networks.

If all has gone to plan these can ping each other between Distributed Logical Switeches across the Distributed Router.

These VMs are now consuming the Transport Node (Hostswith) on each host and seemlessly communicating across the overlay network.